Traction-engine.



No. 757,985. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904. F. C. WATSON. TRACTION ENGINE.

V APPLIOATION FILED AUG 6, 1902 N0 MODEL.

A; 2/62? 70 7 a Fan. mfaoiz 2 UNITED STATES.

Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK e. WATSON, OF nus MOINES, IOWA, AssIeNOR TO AVERY MANUFAC'IURINGCOMPANY, OF

RATION OF ILLINOIS.

IEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 757,985, dated Apri119,1904. Application filed August 6, 1902. Serial No. 118,661. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

' Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to' improvements in chain-drums for the steeringmechanism Of traction-engines and other vehicles, the Object being toconveniently and securely attach the chain to the drum and toaccurately'guide both limbs of the chain as they are alternately takenup and let off in the steeringopcration, so as to prevent anyoverlapping of the chain one coil upon another, which would shortenthe-chain and tend to the breaking or disarrangement of thesteering-gear.

The invention consists in-the parts and combinations thereof hereinafterset forth.

In order to make my improvements more clearly understood, 1 have shownin the accompanying drawings-means for carrying the same into practicalefiect without limiting the invention to the particular constructionwhich I have delineated for the purpose of illustration. I

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan vicw'of a chain-drumand so much ofthe steering mechanism of a traction-engine as is necessary fora fullillustration of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan VICW of the drum on alarger scale. Fig. is a sectional view on line III, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the traction-wheels of theengine; a, the axle or axles of the same; B, the steering-wheels, and bthe steering-axle, connected with the body 0 of the engine by verticalpivot at 0.

1) l) are the steeringchains, connected one with the ofi' arm 1 of thesteering-axle-and the other with the near arm 2 through the medium ofclamps or links/l. The two chains are preferably connected by means of ashort cross-chain d.

E is a transverse drum-shaft mounted beneath the body of the engine inbearings F and adapted to be rotated by worm-pinion G,

keyedon the shaft, and worm H, engaging,

said pinion The worm is fixed on ashaft 1, extending rcarwardly andupwardly, or in other desired direction, to the location of theengineer, where it is provided with a steering-wheel J. 1 I

Fixed on or formed on (as by casting) the shaft E are chain-receivingenlargements K K,- arranged, preferably, each a little to one side ofthe middle of the shaft. While said enlargements may be connected orintegral with each other, their connection through the middle portion ofthesha ft is sufficient, and said parts K K; together with the shaft,may be said to constitute a single drum for both limbs of thesteering-chain.

The chain 1) leads from the steering'axle over the top of the shaft Eand the enlargement K to a pair of ears 3 and 4, which are a bolt 6,parallel with the shaft Eand passing through the end link of the chain1). In line perforated transversely at 5, so as to receive with orformed with the ear 4 is the inner end of a helical flange 70, whichmakes substantially one turn back and outward ,aroundxthe enlargement Kto a point about in .line with the ear 3. The flange If ispreferablycast with the enlargement K and is arranged. to

direct the chain I) outvt'ard as it is coiled on the drum and cause thesecond coil -of1the "dicated at 7, such recess continuing around ornearly around the drum at the base and outer side of the flange It. Fromsaid recess the drum member somewhat increases in diameter, beingpreferably rounded, as shown, to the point where it receives thebeginning of the second coil of thechain, from which point it graduallytapersoutward, as shown at 8, v

and terminates in a cylindrical portion 9, the

whole drum member being of suliicient diam- :and longitudinally thereofeter and length to take up all the chain that,

may be necessary when the steering-wheels are turned to the utmost insteering the ve hicle to the right. The shape of the drum member abovedescribed causes the chain to be gradually taken up more rapidly as thedrum'is turned in the directioni ndicated by the arrow and compensatesfor the simultaneous foreshortening of the axle-arm'l.

The detailed description above given of the drum member K appliesequally to the member K, they being counterparts in shape; but saidmembersare reversely arranged upon the shaft E,as shown, thesteering-chain D being led below the shaft E and below the drum member Kto'jits point-of attachment at-6.

What I claim is- 1. In a steering-gear for a vehicle, the combination ofthe steering wheels, steeringchains connected at their outer ends to thesteering-wheels, a winding-drum, flanges on the drum to which the endsof the chains are secured and adapted to direct the chain longitudinallyof the drum as it is wound up, and means for rotating said drum,substantially as set forth.

2.. In a steering-gear for traction-engines,

. the combination of the steering-wheels, steering-chains connectedtherewith, a drum on which said chains are adapted 'to be wound havingattaching means for the'en'ds of the chains, and flanges on the drumleading helically from said attaching means'around a portion only of thecircumference of the drum and terminating at points short ofsaidattaching means, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steering-gear for traction-engines, the combination of thesteering-wheels, steering-chains connected therewith, and a drum onwhich said chains are adapted to be wound, said 'drum increasing inhelical lines followed by the chains as they are wound up and thencetapering outwardly toward its ends, substantially as set forth.

4. In a steering-gear for traction-engines, the combination vof thesteering-wheels, steering-chains connected therewith, and a drum onwhich said chains are adapted to be wound, said drum havingchain-guiding helical flanges and recesses 7 at the, bases of theflanges, substantially as set forth.

5. A drum fora steering mechanism having a flange for guiding thesteering-chain 'longitudinally of the drum as; it is wound-up and aradially-disposed projection arranged adjacircumference along cent toone end of said flange and adapted to provide therewith parts betweenwhich the chain can be secured to the drum, substantially as set forth.

'6. The drum for taking up the steeringchains of'traction-engines,having chain-receiving parts which increase in diameter as describedfrom the pointswhere the chains are attached, and helical flanges onsaid chainreceiving parts.

7. Thedrum for taking up the steeringcliains of traction-engines havingears to which the chains are adapted to be secured, each pair of carshaving a helical flange leading from one ear around the drum-to theother car, substantially as set forth.

8. A drum for a steering mechanism having a helical flange for guidingthe chain on the drum, and a radially-disposed projection arrangedadjacent to one end of said flange on the side thereof with which thechain is adapted to engage, and means for securing the chain to the drumbetween said projection and flange,

substantially as set forth.

-9. A drum fora steering mechanism having a guiding-flange with one faceof which the chain is adapted to engage, and projections on the drum towhich the chain is secured arranged to direct the chain so that it willengage with the said face of the flange, substantially as set forth.

10. In a steering-gear for traction-engines,

the combination of flexible steering connections, and a take-up drum forthe same having two portions of its surface convexly shaped tocompensate for the greater or less amount of chain to be taken up,and toprevent slackness-or tightness of the chains, substantially as setforth.

11. A winding-drum fora steering mechan: ism having awinding-surfaceconvex 1n longitudinal section, substantially as setforth.

- 12. A winding-drum for a steering mechanism having a winding-surfaceconvex in kmgitudinal section and a guiding-flange on said surface,substantially as set forth.

-13. A. winding-drum for a steering mechanism having a spheroidalwinding-surface, and a helical guiding-flange on said surface,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afl'lx my signature in I presence of twowitnesses. FRANK O. WATSON.

Witnesses:

W. W. TULLY, G. SHAW.

